Jeremiah 10:1-16

Good News Translation

Idolatry and True Worship

10 People of Israel, listen to the message that the Lord has for you. ²He says,

“Do not follow the ways of other nations;
    do not be disturbed by unusual sights in the sky,
    even though other nations are terrified.
³The religion of these people is worthless.
A tree is cut down in the forest;
    it is carved by the tools of the woodworker
⁴    and decorated with silver and gold.
It is fastened down with nails
    to keep it from falling over.
⁵Such idols are like scarecrows in a field of melons;
    they cannot speak;
they have to be carried
    because they cannot walk.
Do not be afraid of them:
    they can cause you no harm,
    and they can do you no good.”

⁶Lord, there is no one like you;
    you are mighty,
    and your name is great and powerful.
⁷^(A)Who would not honor you, the king of all nations?
    You deserve to be honored.
There is no one like you
    among all the wise men of the nations
    or among any of their kings.
⁸All of them are stupid and foolish.
    What can they learn from wooden idols?^[a]
⁹Their idols are covered with silver from Spain
    and with gold from Uphaz,
    all the work of artists;
they are dressed in violet and purple cloth
    woven by skilled weavers.
¹⁰But you, Lord, are the true God,
    you are the living God
    and the eternal king.
When you are angry, the world trembles;
    the nations cannot endure your anger.

(¹¹You people must tell them that the gods who did not make the earth and the sky will be destroyed. They will no longer exist anywhere on earth.)

A Hymn of Praise to God

¹²The Lord made the earth by his power;
    by his wisdom he created the world
    and stretched out the heavens.
¹³At his command the waters above the sky^[b] roar;
    he brings clouds from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning flash in the rain
    and sends the wind from his storeroom.
¹⁴At the sight of this, people feel stupid and senseless;
    those who make idols are disillusioned,
    because the gods they make are false and lifeless.
¹⁵They are worthless and should be despised;
    they will be destroyed when the Lord comes to deal with them.
¹⁶The God of Jacob is not like them;
    he is the one who made everything,
    and he has chosen Israel to be his very own people.
    The Lord Almighty is his name.